Eric O’Neill Speaker Biography
Cybersecurity Expert, Legendary FBI Spy Hunter, Technology Futurist, Bestselling Author & Attorney
Eric O’Neill is one of the world’s foremost cybersecurity experts, former FBI counterintelligence operative, attorney, bestselling author, and internationally sought-after keynote speaker. Best known for his role in capturing Robert Hanssen—the most damaging spy in FBI history—Eric’s remarkable true story inspired the critically acclaimed film Breach, starring Ryan Phillippe as O’Neill. Today, he helps organizations understand and defend against today’s most significant cybersecurity threats, including artificial intelligence, insider threats, ransomware, cyber espionage, social engineering, and nation-state attacks. Combining gripping firsthand stories from the front lines of counterintelligence with practical business strategies, Eric equips leaders to protect their organizations in an increasingly complex digital world.
Keynote Speaker Eric O’Neill at a Glance
- Legendary FBI Counterintelligence Operative: Played a pivotal undercover role in exposing Robert Hanssen, one of the most damaging spies in American history, in an extraordinary investigation dramatized in the Hollywood film Breach.
- Cybersecurity and National Security Authority: Founder of The Georgetown Group and NeXasure AI, attorney, corporate investigator, and national security strategist specializing in cyber espionage, ransomware, insider threats, AI-powered fraud, and organizational security.
- Nationally Bestselling Author and Espionage Expert: Author of Spies, Lies, and Cybercrime: Cybersecurity Tactics to Outsmart Hackers and Disarm Scammers and Gray Day: My Undercover Mission to Expose America’s First Cyber Spy.
- Internationally Sought-After Keynote Speaker and Media Commentator: Delivers compelling presentations for major corporations, government agencies, cybersecurity organizations, and professional associations, with appearances on CNN, Fox News, NPR, and other national media outlets.
The FBI’s Most Famous Spy Investigation
Eric O’Neill began his FBI career after graduating from the Bureau’s prestigious Intelligence Program, serving as a member of the Special Surveillance Group responsible for tracking foreign intelligence officers, terrorists, and suspected spies. His work demanded extraordinary discipline, discretion, and the ability to operate unnoticed while gathering critical intelligence. In 2001, O’Neill was selected for one of the FBI’s most dangerous undercover assignments—working directly alongside veteran FBI agent Robert Hanssen, who had secretly spent more than two decades selling highly classified U.S. intelligence to Russia. By gaining Hanssen’s confidence while operating inside the FBI’s Information Assurance Division, Eric played a critical role in exposing what became one of the greatest espionage cases in American history.
From Counterintelligence to Cybersecurity
Following his FBI career, Eric founded The Georgetown Group, a premier investigative and security consultancy specializing in cybersecurity, counterintelligence, insider threats, corporate investigations, economic espionage, fraud prevention, and executive risk management. He has also served as National Security Strategist for Carbon Black, VMware Carbon Black, and Broadcom, advising organizations on emerging cyber threats, ransomware, data protection, and national security. More recently, Eric expanded his work into artificial intelligence security as founder of NeXasure AI, helping organizations prepare for the rapidly evolving risks posed by AI-powered cyberattacks and digital deception.
Leading Expert on Cybercrime and Artificial Intelligence
Eric is widely recognized for helping organizations understand how today’s cybercriminals exploit technology, artificial intelligence, deepfakes, ransomware, phishing attacks, and trusted insiders to compromise businesses. His presentations translate complex cybersecurity concepts into practical strategies that executives, employees, and technology leaders can immediately implement. Rather than focusing solely on technology, Eric emphasizes the human side of cybersecurity—how trust, culture, leadership, and awareness remain an organization’s strongest defenses against increasingly sophisticated attacks.
Bestselling Author and Media Contributor
Eric is the author of the bestselling memoir Gray Day: My Undercover Mission to Expose America’s First Cyber Spy, which recounts his extraordinary role in bringing down Robert Hanssen and inspired the major motion picture Breach. He also authored Spies, Lies, and Cybercrime: Cybersecurity Tactics to Outsmart Hackers and Disarm Scammers, offering practical guidance for individuals and organizations navigating today’s digital threat landscape. His expertise has been featured by CNN, Fox News, ABC News, NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross, C-SPAN, 20/20, Nightline, Washington Journal, Newsweek, TechCrunch, and numerous other national and international media outlets covering cybersecurity, espionage, national security, and emerging technologies.
Leadership Under Pressure
Beyond cybersecurity, Eric’s story demonstrates how leaders can perform under extraordinary pressure while making difficult decisions with incomplete information. His experiences confronting one of history’s most dangerous spies provide valuable lessons about courage, adaptability, trust, critical thinking, and maintaining confidence when the stakes are highest. His ability to connect real-world espionage with modern business challenges makes his presentations especially valuable for organizations navigating rapid technological change, increasing cyber risk, and complex leadership decisions.
Why Organizations Book Eric O’Neill
Eric O’Neill delivers unforgettable keynote presentations that combine true FBI espionage stories with practical lessons on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, leadership, risk management, and organizational resilience. His engaging storytelling, deep technical knowledge, and actionable advice help audiences better understand today’s evolving threat landscape while equipping them to strengthen their security culture and protect their organizations. His presentations are ideal for cybersecurity conferences, financial institutions, healthcare organizations, technology companies, government agencies, defense contractors, legal organizations, and corporate leadership events seeking one of the world’s foremost experts on cybercrime, espionage, insider threats, and the future of digital security.
Eric O’Neill Speaking Topics
Cybersecurity: Spies, Lies, Cybercrime, and You
Today's cybercriminals are using the tools of espionage, artificial intelligence, and organized crime to launch increasingly sophisticated attacks against businesses, governments, and individuals. Former FBI counterintelligence operative Eric O'Neill takes audiences inside this rapidly evolving digital battlefield, revealing how foreign intelligence services, ransomware gangs, Dark Web criminals, and AI-powered fraudsters exploit vulnerabilities to steal money, intellectual property, and sensitive information. Drawing on his bestselling book Spies, Lies, and Cybercrime and decades of experience investigating espionage and security threats, O'Neill explains why modern cybercrime increasingly resembles traditional intelligence operations and how organizations can adapt proven counterintelligence techniques to defend themselves. Through gripping stories, real-world examples, and accessible explanations, he demonstrates how attackers use deception, impersonation, infiltration, and exploitation to compromise even sophisticated organizations. Audiences discover how to recognize suspicious activity, strengthen security awareness, protect valuable data, and develop the habits necessary to reduce organizational vulnerability. O'Neill challenges participants to think like spy hunters rather than passive targets, equipping them with practical strategies for identifying threats before they become costly incidents. This compelling presentation makes cybersecurity relevant to everyone, from senior executives and technology professionals to employees whose everyday decisions can determine whether an attack succeeds.
Leadership Under Pressure: The True Story of Catching America's Most Dangerous Spy
What does it take to make critical decisions when the stakes are enormous, information is incomplete, and failure is not an option? Eric O'Neill draws on his extraordinary undercover assignment inside the FBI to reveal the leadership principles that helped expose Robert Hanssen, one of the most dangerous spies in American history. Assigned to work directly alongside a highly experienced intelligence officer who had secretly betrayed his country for more than two decades, O'Neill faced an adversary skilled in deception, manipulation, and counterintelligence. One mistake could have compromised the investigation and jeopardized national security. Through captivating storytelling and lessons from the operation portrayed in the film Breach and chronicled in his memoir Gray Day, O'Neill explores how preparation, adaptability, trust, resilience, and disciplined decision-making can help individuals succeed under extraordinary pressure. He challenges conventional assumptions about leadership, emphasizing the importance of creating opportunities rather than relying on luck, responding effectively to setbacks, and maintaining focus when circumstances become unpredictable. Audiences learn how to assess risk, act confidently without perfect information, overcome adversity, and inspire others through courage and accountability. This memorable presentation translates a remarkable true espionage story into practical lessons for executives, entrepreneurs, managers, and professionals navigating high-stakes business challenges.
Secrets from a Legendary Spyhunter: Decoding AI Deepfakes, Extortion & More
Artificial intelligence is giving cybercriminals powerful new tools for deception, impersonation, and financial exploitation. From convincing deepfake videos and AI-generated voices to sophisticated phishing campaigns, fraudulent executive communications, and ransomware attacks, today's digital threats are becoming more difficult to recognize and increasingly costly to ignore. Legendary FBI spy hunter and cybersecurity strategist Eric O'Neill reveals how criminals are using generative AI to create realistic impersonations, automate scams, and manipulate the trust that individuals and organizations place in familiar voices, faces, and communications. Drawing on his counterintelligence background and current work investigating emerging cyber threats, O'Neill explains how seemingly legitimate requests can conceal elaborate criminal operations and why traditional assumptions about digital authenticity are no longer sufficient. Through startling real-world examples and compelling stories, he demonstrates how deepfakes, social engineering, and AI-assisted fraud can compromise organizations at every level. Participants discover practical techniques for verifying identities, recognizing suspicious communications, strengthening internal procedures, and protecting themselves against increasingly convincing attacks. O'Neill provides a clear understanding of how artificial intelligence is changing the cybersecurity landscape while empowering audiences with actionable steps to defend their organizations, employees, customers, and financial resources.
Data Is the Currency of Our Lives: This Is How to Protect Yours
Personal information, corporate intelligence, and digital identities have become some of the most valuable assets in the modern economy. Eric O'Neill examines why cybercriminals, foreign intelligence services, and sophisticated fraud networks aggressively target data and how individuals and organizations can better protect what they collect, store, and share. Drawing on his experience as an FBI operative, security investigator, and cybersecurity strategist, he explains how attackers exploit seemingly harmless information to conduct identity theft, corporate espionage, financial fraud, and targeted social engineering campaigns. O'Neill explores the connection between personal digital habits and organizational security, demonstrating how everyday decisions involving email, passwords, online accounts, and sensitive communications can create unexpected vulnerabilities. Through compelling examples and practical guidance, he helps audiences understand the true value of their information and develop more effective habits for protecting it. This presentation provides an accessible approach to digital risk management, equipping participants with greater awareness and practical strategies for safeguarding their identities, organizations, and valuable information.
Dinner With a Spy: An Unforgettable Evening of Secrets, Strategy, and Stories
Step inside the extraordinary world of undercover intelligence with Eric O'Neill, the former FBI operative whose work helped expose Robert Hanssen, one of the most damaging spies in American history. In this distinctive storytelling experience, O'Neill takes audiences behind the scenes of the investigation that inspired the Hollywood thriller Breach, sharing fascinating insights into the methods, challenges, and psychological pressures involved in tracking a master spy. Combining suspense, humor, and firsthand accounts, he explores the art of deception, the importance of trust, and the difficult decisions intelligence professionals must make when the consequences of failure are extraordinary. O'Neill also connects the lessons of espionage to contemporary challenges involving cybersecurity, leadership, organizational risk, and human behavior. Designed for executive dinners, client appreciation events, private gatherings, and special conference programs, this engaging presentation offers a memorable combination of entertainment, intrigue, and practical insight from someone who experienced one of America's most remarkable counterintelligence investigations firsthand.
Eric O’Neill Books
Spies, Lies, and Cybercrime: Cybersecurity Tactics to Outsmart Hackers and Disarm Scammers
Purchase Book
Gray Day: My Undercover Mission to Expose America’s First Cyber Spy
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Eric O’Neill Articles
Eric O’Neill Speaker Testimonials
"Eric O’Neill’s presentation on “An Insider's Look into the Robert Hanssen Investigation: How the FBI Caught the Worst Spy in American History” is a breathtaking insight into one of the worst spies in United States history. Eric presented on never before heard facts that wowed the audience and left everyone wanting more. His professional approach and mild mannered attitude were spot on for an engaging delivery. Everyone was so focused on Eric for the full hour that you could have heard a pin drop in a room of 1,000+ attendees. Eric is truly a once in a lifetime speaker that everyone should see and hear in person!"
- | NCMS Seminar Committee
"Eric O’Neill totally captured our conference audience with his insights on cybersecurity and its similarity to locating spies within. Approximately 250 people were fully engaged and asking for more at the end of the hour. Eric is definitely a powerful speaker and not-to-be missed."
- | Kathy Kimball, CISO University of Virginia
"Eric was the perfect guest speaker for our event. With an audience of IT Security folks, he not only captivated the room with his thrilling espionage story, but also incorporated our latest cybersecurity report and other cybersecurity themes into his talk. Eric has a long list of interesting topics he can speak on, and we hope that we can bring him back to speak again in the future."
- CloudLock | Carrie Page , Manager, Events & Partner Relations
Eric was a pleasure to work with. He brought extremely relevant content to the audience and had them captivated by his stories and message through the entire session. The audience survey results were outstanding! I would recommend Eric to any organization looking for a dynamic and entertaining speaker!
- | Senior Manager - Conferences, The Institute of Internal Auditors
